On Trains & Buses

Overview

Everything runs as normal until Christmas Eve when most routes operate albeit with specific evening journeys cancelled. After a complete stop on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, the weekend returns to normal Saturday and Sunday patterns, before the network moves into a more complicated late-December and early-January schedule. New Year’s Eve resembles that late-December pattern but also includes additional journey cancellations like on Christmas Eve, then New Year’s Day brings another full shutdown before a final day of mixed arrangements on 2^nd January. From 3^rd January, normal timetables resume.

Normal Service Days

On Monday 22^nd December and Tuesday 23^rd December, normal weekday timetables operate on all route, which this means that anyone travelling to work, college or appointments can plan as they would on a typical Monday or Tuesday. During the weekend immediately following Christmas, Saturday 27^th December and Sunday 28^th December, reverts to normal patterns for those days.

Christmas Eve (24^th December)

Christmas Eve, which falls on Wednesday 24^th December, is where the first significant changes appear. The overall framing is that normal weekday timetables operate on all routes, but there are two important exceptions and a series of specific journeys that do not run.

The exceptions are that no buses operate on services 11 or 22. For regular users of those corridors, this is a full-day suspension rather than an early finish, so alternative arrangements are needed throughout the day.

Beyond those two routes, the main Christmas Eve pattern is about trimming later journeys, a common approach as evening travel demand reduces, and staff availability can be more constrained.

Service 8 loses journeys from Wistaston Green at 19:40, 20:40 and 21:40 and also from Sydney at 20:10, 21:10 and 22:10, while service 8A does not run the 20:40 journey from Hanley.

Service 9 does not operate journeys from Biddulph at 19:18 and 19:48.

Service 12 is affected in both directions, with journeys from Leighton Hospital at 19:25 and 20:30 not running and journeys from Shavington at 19:54 and 20:59 not running.

Service 16 does not run the 19:30 journey from Hanley and the 20:15 journey from Leek.

On service 24, the 20:52 journey from Norton and the 22:08 journey from Trentham Lakes do not run, while on service 27A the 21:21 journey from Bentilee and the 22:08 journey from Trentham Lakes do not run.

Service 31 does not run the 19:08 journey from Crewe, service 32 does not run the 19:13 journey from Uttoxeter and service 85 does not run the 19:40 journey from Newcastle.

Some of the most notable reductions on Christmas Eve are on longer cross-town and interurban routes where later departures can be important for shift workers and evening social travel.

Service 37 does not run from Sandbach at 20:04, 21:04, 22:04 and 23:04 and from Northwich at 19:00, 20:05, 21:05, 22:05 and 23:05.

Service 38 does not run from Crewe at 19:45, 20:35, 21:35 and 23:05 and from Macclesfield at 19:15, 20:20, 21:50 and 22:50.

Service 41 does not run from Chester at 19:00 and from Whitchurch at 19:12.

Service 42 does not run from Congleton at 18:45 and from Leighton Hospital at 20:15.

Service 84X does not run from Crewe at 18:58, 19:58 and 20:58 and from Nantwich at 19:31, 20:31 and 21:31.

Taken together, these changes mean that while daytime travel is broadly weekday-normal, evening options narrow, sometimes earlier than passengers might assume if they simply look at a standard Wednesday timetable.

Christmas and Boxing Day Shutdown

After Christmas Eve, the network moves into its clearest cut-and-dried phase. On Thursday 25^th December (Christmas Day) and Friday 26^th December (Boxing Day), no buses operate. This is a full network shutdown with no route exceptions. Anyone needing to travel on either day will need to look at other ways of getting around in places where no other operator is running services, including walking or cycling where possible.

Late December Mixed Operations

The more intricate part begins on Monday 29^th December and Tuesday 30^th December. On these days, normal weekday timetables operate, but only on services 27, 33, 35, 47, 48, 96, 316, 318, 319 and N1. That group, running as a standard weekday, is important for those whose work continues between Christmas and New Year or for anyone making regular weekday trips such as medical appointments. Alongside that, there is a clear set of routes that do not operate at all: no buses run on services 6, 32, 32A, 34 and 150.

For all other routes not already named, Saturday timetables operate. This pattern of weekday on some routes, Saturday on many routes and no service on a few can catch passengers out if they assume an all-or-nothing bank holiday pattern. It makes checking the right timetable for a specific route essential, particularly where Saturday services are less frequent or start later than weekday ones.

New Year’s Eve (31^st December)

New Year’s Eve, Wednesday 31^st December, broadly follows the same structure as 29^th and 30^th December but with additional constraints. Normal weekday timetables operate on services 27, 33, 35, 47, 48, 96, 316, 318, 319 and N1, matching the late-December approach, while Saturday timetables operate on all other routes.

However, the list of routes not operating expands compared with 29^th and 30^th December. No buses operate on services 6, 11, 22, 32, 32A, 34 and 150. The inclusion of services 11 and 22 in this no-service group echoes the Christmas Eve position for those routes, reinforcing that they are not running on that day.

New Year’s Eve also brings a second set of journey-level reductions, similar in style to Christmas Eve, which effectively means that some routes running to a Saturday timetable lose some later journeys.

Service 8 again does not run from Wistaston Green at 19:40, 20:40 and 21:40 and from Sydney at 20:10, 21:10 and 22:10, while service 8A again does not run the 20:40 journey from Hanley.

Service 9 does not run from Biddulph at 19:48.

Service 12 does not run from Leighton Hospital at 19:25 and 20:25 and from Shavington at 19:54 and 20:54.

Service 16 does not run from Hanley at 19:30 and from Leek at 20:15.

Service 24 does not run from Norton at 20:52 and from Trentham Lakes at 22:08, and service 27A does not run from Bentilee at 21:21 and from Trentham Lakes at 22:08.

Service 31 does not run the 19:08 journey from Crewe.

On service 37, the New Year’s Eve reductions mirror the late-evening pattern but with slightly different detail from the Christmas Eve list. Journeys from Sandbach at 20:04, 21:04, 22:04 and 23:04 do not run, while journeys from Northwich at 19:20, 20:05, 21:05, 22:05 and 23:05 do not run and there is also a journey from Winsford at 19:25 that does not run.

Service 38 again loses multiple evening trips, with journeys from Crewe at 19:45, 20:35, 21:35 and 23:05 not running and journeys from Macclesfield at 19:15, 20:20, 21:50 and 22:50 not running.

Service 41 does not run from Chester at 19:00 and from Whitchurch at 19:12.

Service 84X does not run from Crewe at 18:58, 19:58 and 20:58 and from Nantwich at 19:31, 20:31 and 21:31.

Service 85 does not run from Newcastle at 19:40.

Although the day often involves later travel for celebrations, these reductions mean the network does not provide a late-night uplift and instead finishes earlier on a selection of routes, so return journeys may need particular attention.

New Year’s Day (1^st January)

New Year’s Day, Thursday 1^st January, is another complete stop, with no buses operating. As with Christmas Day and Boxing Day, this is a network-wide shutdown rather than a modified timetable, making the overall message simple but with the travel impact being significant for anyone working on the day or trying to reach any rail and coach services that do operate.

Return to Near-Normality (2^nd January)

Friday 2^nd January then reprises the late-December weekday mix. Normal weekday timetables operate on services 27, 33, 35, 47, 48, 96, 316, 318, 319 and N1. No buses operate on services 6, 32, 32A, 34 and 150. Saturday timetables operate on all other routes. For passengers, this means that even though the calendar has moved into January, the network does not yet fully return to standard weekday operation across the board. That waits until after Saturday 3^rd January, when normal timetables resume.

Here is a guide that navigates the intricate changes to Edinburgh and Lothian’s public transport network during the festive period from Christmas 2025 through to early January 2026. The bus and tram services operate under a series of distinct arrangements rather than following a single pattern, with variations across different operators, special provisions for key dates such as Christmas Day and Hogmanay, and the introduction of dedicated overnight services for New Year celebrations. What follows below breaks down the specific arrangements for Lothian Buses, East Coast Buses, Lothian Country and Edinburgh Trams, providing date-by-date clarity on what to expect and how to plan journeys effectively during one of the busiest travel periods of the year.

Different Networks

The bus and tram network changes substantially over the festive period. There is no single timetable that covers everything. Instead, different operators run separate arrangements and there are special ones for Hogmanay itself too:

• Lothian Buses covers city services, Airlink 100 and city NightBuses
• East Coast Buses serves routes to East Lothian (Musselburgh, Tranent, Haddington, North Berwick, Dunbar)
• Lothian Country covers West Lothian (Livingston, Bathgate, Queensferry, Broxburn, Fauldhouse)
• Edinburgh Trams operates between the airport, city centre and Newhaven
• Hogmanay H services (buses) operate separately on New Year’s Eve into New Year’s Day

What Changes

The familiar pattern of daytime routes and NightBus services shifts between 24^th December and 5^th January:

• Service levels vary by date - Saturday, Sunday, Special or Normal
• Earlier finishing times on Christmas Eve and Hogmanay for buses (typically around 21:30)
• Limited routes on public holidays - Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day for buses
• Trams don’t run on Christmas Day but maintain normal service most other days
• NightBus runs intermittently - not available after every day
• Hogmanay overnight uses special H bus services - different routes, different tickets
• Trams are free after midnight on Hogmanay - buses require Hogmanay Ticket

Key Dates at a Glance

🎄 Christmas Eve - Wednesday 24^th December

• Buses: Saturday timetable, finish early (last buses around 21:30)
• Trams: Normal weekday service, every 7 minutes
• NightBuses: Run in early morning only

🎄 Christmas Day - Thursday 25^th December

• Buses: Special timetables, limited routes only
• Trams: No service operates
• NightBus: Does not operate overnight into Boxing Day

🎁 Boxing Day - Friday 26^th December

• Buses: Special timetables, expanded from Christmas Day
• Trams: Normal weekday service resumes, every 7 minutes
• NightBus: Does not operate overnight into 27^th December

📅 Weekend Return - 27^th-28^th December

• Saturday 27^th: Buses on Saturday timetable, no NightBus; Trams normal service
• Sunday 28^th: Buses on Sunday timetable, NightBus resumes Sunday morning; Trams normal service

📅 Pre-Hogmanay - 29^th-30^th December

• Monday 29^th: Buses on Saturday timetable, NightBus operates normally; Trams normal service
• Tuesday 30^th: Buses on Saturday timetable, NightBus operates normally; Trams normal service until 17:50, then split operation (Princes Street closes for Hogmanay preparations)

🎉 Hogmanay - Wednesday 31^st December

• Buses: Saturday timetable, finish early (last buses around 21:30), NightBuses in early morning only
• Trams: 10-minute service on split operation (Airport-West End AND Picardy Place-Newhaven)
• After midnight (buses): Special H services run midnight to 04:00 (£6/£12 Hogmanay Ticket required)
• After midnight (trams): FREE service, every 10 minutes until 02:00, then frequent until early hours

🎊 New Year’s Day - Thursday 1^st January

• Buses: Special timetables, limited routes only; HogmanayBus H services in early morning
• Trams: Split operation until Princes Street reopens, then normal service resumes
• NightBus: Does not operate overnight into 2^nd January

📅 Early January - 2^nd-4^th January

• Friday 2^nd: Buses on Sunday timetable, no NightBus; Trams normal service
• Saturday 3^rd: Buses on Saturday timetable, no NightBus; Trams normal service
• Sunday 4^th: Buses on Sunday timetable, NightBus resumes; Trams normal service

✅ Back to Normal - Monday 5^th January

• Service level: Normal weekday services resume for all operators
• Schools return

Lothian Buses (City Network)

22^nd - 23^rd December

Timetables are as per normal weekdays across all Lothian services, including Airlink and NightBus.

Christmas Eve: Wednesday 24^th December

Daytime: Saturday timetable operates, but services finish earlier than a normal Saturday. Last buses through the city centre typically depart around 21:30, though precise times vary by route.

NightBus: Operates in the early morning only (for travel after midnight at the start of the day).

Airlink 100: Reduced service.

Christmas Day: Thursday 25^th December

Daytime: Special timetable on selected routes only. Check the dedicated Christmas Day leaflet for which routes operate.

Airlink 100: Limited daytime service only.

NightBus: Does not operate overnight into Boxing Day.

Boxing Day: Friday 26^th December

Daytime: Special timetable with core routes running at reduced frequencies.

Airlink 100: Daytime only.

NightBus: Does not operate overnight into Saturday 27^th December.

Weekend Return: 27^th-28^th December

Saturday 27^th December: Saturday timetable returns. Airlink early morning journeys operate. NightBus does not operate overnight.

Sunday 28^th December: Sunday timetable. NightBus runs on Sunday morning only.

Pre-Hogmanay: 29^th-30^th December

Monday 29^th and Tuesday 30^th December: Both days operate to Saturday daytime timetables.

NightBus: Returns to normal operation in the early mornings.

Hogmanay: Wednesday 31^st December

Daytime: Saturday timetable operates.

Evening: Services finish early, typically with last buses through the city centre around 21:30.

NightBus: Operates in the early morning only (at the start of the day).

After midnight: Normal NightBus does not run. Instead, special H services replace normal overnight provision (see Hogmanay Services section for full details).

New Year’s Day: Thursday 1^st January

Daytime: Special timetable on selected routes only.

NightBus: Does not operate overnight into Friday 2^nd January.

Early January: 2^nd-4^th January

Friday 2^nd January: Sunday timetable. No NightBus services.

Saturday 3^rd January: Saturday timetable. No NightBus services.

Sunday 4^th January: Sunday timetable. NightBus resumes in the early hours.

Return to Normal: Monday 5^th January

Normal weekday services resume across the network. Schools return on this date.

East Coast Buses (East Lothian Routes)

Coverage: Edinburgh, Musselburgh, Tranent, Haddington, North Berwick, Dunbar and intermediate communities.

Christmas Eve: Wednesday 24^th December

Daytime: Saturday timetable with earlier last departures from Edinburgh city centre.

NightBus: Routes N107, N113 and N124 operate in the early morning only (helpful for travel after midnight at the start of the day, but not late on Christmas Eve night once services have finished).

Christmas Day: Thursday 25^th December

A tightly focused service operates on three core corridors only:

Route 107: Edinburgh - Musselburgh - Tranent - Haddington - Dunbar

Route 113: Edinburgh - Musselburgh - Tranent - Ormiston - Pencaitland

Route 124: Edinburgh - Musselburgh - Prestonpans - Longniddry - Gullane - North Berwick

Special operational note: On 25^th December only, East Coast Buses serve all stops between Brunstane and Abbeyhill.

NightBus: Does not operate overnight into Boxing Day.

Boxing Day: Friday 26^th December

Special timetable continues with a wider daytime spread across the key network.

Routes operating: X7 (Dunbar - Haddington - Edinburgh via A1), 106, 107, 113, 124

Frequencies: Generally hourly on most routes.

NightBus: Does not operate overnight into Saturday 27^th December.

Weekend Return: 27^th-28^th December

Saturday 27^th and Sunday 28^th December: Normal weekend timetables return.

NightBus: Resumes on the morning of Sunday 28^th December.

Pre-Hogmanay: 29^th-30^th December

Monday 29^th and Tuesday 30^th December: Operate broadly to Saturday daytime timetables.

NightBus N107: Runs to a normal weekday timetable in the early morning hours. This reinforces that the overnight offer is not a uniform on-or-off switch across all festive dates.

Hogmanay: Wednesday 31^st December

Daytime: Saturday timetable with earlier last departures from the city centre.

NightBus N107: Runs as normal in the early hours (at the start of the day).

After midnight: Hogmanay services are separated out into the special H network rather than being part of the ordinary NightBus arrangements.

New Year’s Day: Thursday 1^st January

Daytime: Special timetable operates on routes 106, 107, 113, 124 and X7, generally at hourly frequencies.

Early morning: HogmanayBus services H107 and H124 operate.

NightBus: Does not operate overnight into Friday 2^nd January.

Early January: 2^nd-4^th January

Friday 2^nd and Saturday 3^rd January: No NightBus services in the mornings.

Sunday 4^th January: Returns to a Sunday timetable with overnight services resuming in the early hours.

Return to Normal: Monday 5^th January

Normal weekday services return.

Lothian Country (West Lothian Routes)

Coverage: South Queensferry, Livingston, Bathgate, Whitburn, Broxburn, Fauldhouse, Winchburgh and connections into Edinburgh.

The festive pattern is similar in shape to other operators but different in the details of which corridors are maintained.

Christmas Eve: Wednesday 24^th December

Daytime: Saturday timetable with earlier last buses, especially towards Edinburgh.

NightBus: Routes N18, N28 and N43 operate in the early morning only.

Christmas Day: Thursday 25^th December

Very limited special service with only a defined set of routes operating:

Route X18: Whitburn - Bathgate - Broxburn - Edinburgh

Routes X27 and X28: Bathgate - Livingston - Edinburgh

Route 43: Queensferry - Dalmeny - Edinburgh

Route X40: St John’s Hospital - Livingston - Royal Infirmary

Route 72: Fauldhouse - Livingston - Winchburgh

Route 74: Fauldhouse - West Calder - Livingston - Bathgate

Frequencies: Reduced, generally hourly or less.

NightBus: Does not operate overnight into Boxing Day.

Boxing Day: Friday 26^th December

Special timetable continues with the same core routes, typically with improved frequencies compared with Christmas Day.

NightBus: Does not operate overnight into Saturday 27^th December.

Weekend Return: 27^th-28^th December

Saturday 27^th December: Saturday timetable returns, although NightBus does not operate in the early hours.

Sunday 28^th December: Sunday timetable. NightBus routes operate on Sunday morning only.

Pre-Hogmanay: 29^th-30^th December

Monday 29^th and Tuesday 30^th December: Both use Saturday daytime timetables.

NightBus: Returns to normal operation in the early morning.

Hogmanay: Wednesday 31^st December

Daytime: Saturday timetable with earlier last journeys in the evening.

NightBus: Operates in the early hours only (at the start of the day).

After midnight: Handled through the Hogmanay H network rather than the standard NightBus.

New Year’s Day: Thursday 1^st January

Daytime: Special timetable on the same core routes that operated on Christmas Day.

Early morning: HogmanayBus services H18, H28 and H43 operate.

NightBus: Does not operate overnight into Friday 2^nd January.

Early January: 2^nd-4^th January

Friday 2^nd January: Sunday timetable, no NightBus.

Saturday 3^rd January: Saturday timetable, no NightBus.

Sunday 4^th January: Sunday timetable with NightBus resuming in the early hours.

Return to Normal: Monday 5^th January

Normal weekday services return. Schools restart on this date.

Edinburgh Trams

Edinburgh Trams operate a simpler festive pattern than the bus network, maintaining normal weekday service on most days with just a few key changes.

Normal route: Edinburgh Airport - York Place (city centre) - Newhaven

Christmas Eve: Wednesday 24^th December

Service level: Normal weekday service throughout the day.

Frequency: Trams every 7 minutes.

No early finish - trams run to normal hours unlike buses.

Christmas Day: Thursday 25^th December

Service level: No trams operate on Christmas Day.

Staff have the day off to spend with their families.

Boxing Day to Monday 29^th December (26^th-29^th December)

Service level: Normal weekday service resumes immediately on Boxing Day.

Frequency: Trams every 7 minutes.

This is notably different from buses, which run special reduced timetables on Boxing Day.

Tuesday 30^th December

Until 17:50: Normal weekday service operates on the full route.

From 17:50 onwards: Princes Street closes to prepare for the Hogmanay Street Party.

Split operation begins:

• Service A: Edinburgh Airport - West End
• Service B: Picardy Place - Newhaven

Passengers cannot travel through the city centre section. Change at West End or use alternative transport through the closure zone.

Hogmanay: Wednesday 31^st December

Service level: 10-minute frequency on split operation.

Split operation continues:

• Service A: Edinburgh Airport - West End
• Service B: Picardy Place - Newhaven

After midnight: All trams are FREE to help people get home safely.

Midnight to 02:00: Trams run every 10 minutes.

02:00 onwards: Frequent service continues into the early hours of New Year’s Day.

This is a major difference from buses, which require a £6.00 or £12.00 Hogmanay Ticket for overnight travel.

New Year’s Day: Thursday 1^st January

Split operation continues until Princes Street reopens.

Once Princes Street reopens: Normal weekday service resumes on the full route.

Friday 2^nd January onwards

Service level: Normal weekday service resumes.

Frequency: Trams every 7 minutes.

Trams vs Buses: Key Differences

Understanding how trams differ from buses during the festive period can help with journey planning:

Travel Tips for Tram Users

Park & Ride: If driving from beyond Edinburgh, use Ingliston Park & Ride (over 1,000 free spaces, just off A8 Airport Junction). Trams depart every 7 minutes.

Shopping access: For city centre shopping, use Princes Street, St Andrew Square or Picardy Place stops - but note the Princes Street closure from 17:50 on 30^th December through New Year’s Day.

Hogmanay travel: Take advantage of free tram travel after midnight on 31^st December. Frequent service runs until the early hours to help you get home safely.

During Princes Street closure: Plan for the split operation. If you need to travel through the city centre between 30^th December evening and 1^st January, consider:

• Walking between West End and Picardy Place (approximately 15 to 20 minutes)
• Using Lothian Buses routes that aren’t affected by the closure
• Using the free Hogmanay trams for part of your journey after midnight on 31^st December

Hogmanay Overnight Bus Services

The H Network: Midnight to 04:00, Thursday 1^st January 2026

The most distinctive part of the festive network operates on Hogmanay night. Special buses branded as H services run from midnight to 04:00 on Thursday 1^st January 2026. These are designed specifically for late night travel after New Year celebrations and replace normal NightBus operations for Hogmanay night.

Anyone relying on the usual NightBus routes needs to treat Hogmanay as its own separate arrangement, with its own routes, fares and ticket validity.

Ticketing: A Central Difference

You cannot use normal tickets or passes on H bus services.

A Hogmanay Ticket is required for travel on H bus services.

Pricing:

• £6.00 for travel within one fare zone
• £12.00 for travel across two fare zones

What the ticket covers:

• Unlimited travel on day buses after 18:00 on Wednesday 31^st December
• Unlimited travel on H bus services after midnight on 1^st January

How to pay:

• Cash on board (exact cash fare only)
• Contactless on board
• Ridacard is accepted

Not valid on H bus services:

• Concessionary passes
• Season tickets
• Other passes or tickets

This is a significant departure from normal expectations for people who might otherwise use concessionary passes or other season tickets.

Where the Hogmanay Ticket is valid:

• Lothian, Lothian Country and East Coast Buses services
• Excludes: Airlink and the airport tram stop
• Normal zone restrictions apply

Remember: Edinburgh Trams are FREE after midnight on Hogmanay - no ticket required.

Geographic Coverage

The H network is structured to provide radial coverage from Edinburgh city centre out to suburbs and surrounding towns.

West and North West: Silverknowes, Queensferry, Kirkliston, South Queensferry

North and North East: Granton, Newhaven, Leith, Portobello, Musselburgh

South and South East: Liberton, Hyvots Bank, Dalkeith, Gorebridge, Newtongrange

South West and West: Balerno, Colinton, Clovenstone, Wester Hailes

Longer Distance Routes: Some services extend to Bathgate, Penicuik, Dunbar and North Berwick, although not every journey necessarily runs end to end. Late night operation can include city-only journeys or partial routing to outer termini.

Service Frequency

Operations are designed around manageable frequencies overnight, with services generally running every 30 to 60 minutes depending on the route.

Departure Points

Departures are organised from key city centre termini:

• Haymarket
• Princes Street
• Nicholson Street
• Elm Row
• Leopold Place

This reflects how the network is intended to distribute passengers after events in the centre.

HogmanayBus Morning Services

In addition to the overnight H network, special HogmanayBus services operate in the early morning of 1^st January:

East Coast Buses: H107, H124

Lothian Country: H18, H28, H43

Important Notes

As with many special timetables, notes about directionality and partial operation matter more than usual. A service might run to an outer area on one journey but operate only within the city on another.

Planning Your Festive Travel

Treat Each Date as a Separate Scenario

The festive period does not follow a single pattern. Rather than assuming weekend or weekday patterns, check the service level for your specific travel date.

Watch for Earlier Finishing Times

Christmas Eve (24^th December) and Hogmanay (31^st December) - buses finish early.

Last buses typically depart around 21:30 from the city centre. The daytime frequency can look fairly normal right up until services begin to wind down, which tends to catch people out.

Trams run to normal hours on Christmas Eve but operate on split service from 17:50 on 30^th December through New Year’s Day.

Check your specific route’s last departure time if the final journey of the day matters.

Understand NightBus Availability

NightBus availability is intermittent across the period, with notable gaps on the mornings after major public holidays.

NightBus does NOT operate overnight into:

• Friday 26^th December (Boxing Day)
• Saturday 27^th December
• Friday 2^nd January
• Saturday 3^rd January

NightBus DOES operate in early mornings of:

• Wednesday 24^th December
• Sunday 28^th December
• Monday 29^th December
• Tuesday 30^th December
• Wednesday 31^st December
• Resumes from Sunday 4^th January onwards

Expect Limited Networks on Special Days

Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day operate on special timetables with reduced bus networks.

What this means for buses:

• Only selected routes run
• Frequencies are typically hourly at most
• There are fewer early morning and late evening journeys
• Not all areas are served

What this means for trams:

• No service at all on Christmas Day
• Normal service on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day (once Princes Street reopens)

Hogmanay Requires Different Planning

Wednesday 31^st December into Thursday 1^st January stands apart:

For buses:

• Normal NightBus routes do not operate after midnight
• H services use different routes
• H services require a Hogmanay Ticket (£6.00 or £12.00)
• Concessionary passes and other tickets are not valid
• Service operates midnight to 04:00 only

For trams:

• FREE travel after midnight
• 10-minute frequency until 02:00
• Frequent service continues into early hours
• Split operation continues (Airport-West End AND Picardy Place-Newhaven)

Service Level Summary

Download Timetables & Further Information

Lothian Buses (City Network)

Download: Lothian Buses Festive Timetable (PDF)

East Coast Buses (East Lothian)

Download: East Coast Buses Festive Timetable (PDF)

Lothian Country (West Lothian)

Download: Lothian Country Festive Timetable (PDF)

Hogmanay Services

Download: Hogmanay Services Information (PDF)

Edinburgh Trams

Read more: Edinburgh Trams Festive Information

Introduction

The festive period brings public transport changes across Ireland’s other operators, complementing the arrangements already outlined for Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann and Irish Rail. This guide covers how Go-Ahead Ireland, Luas, City Direct, JJ Kavanagh, Aircoach, Matthews Coach Hire, Wexford Bus and Dublin Coach will operate through Christmas and New Year, helping passengers navigate the varied approaches across these networks.

Go-Ahead Ireland Network-Wide Changes

Go-Ahead Ireland, which operates over 60 routes across the Greater Dublin Area, Kildare and Wicklow under contract to the National Transport Authority, follows a pattern similar to other Dublin operators. On Christmas Eve, services run until 21:00 across the network. Christmas Day sees a complete suspension of all routes, a standard pause mirrored across Irish public transport. St Stephen’s Day brings a return to service from 09:00, but on a Sunday timetable, meaning reduced frequencies and later starts than weekday schedules.

From 27^th to 30^th December, normal timetables resume, providing four days of regular service before the year’s end. New Year’s Eve operates as a normal day with services running until the standard early finish. New Year’s Day returns to the Sunday timetable once more, before everything settles back to the regular pattern on 2^nd January. Further details are available on the Go-Ahead Ireland website.

Luas

Dublin’s Luas tram network operates an extensive festive schedule including special late-night services in the run-up to Christmas and New Year. The service shows clear differentiation between the two lines and includes valuable late-night operations for those celebrating.

Night Luas Services: Special late-night services operate on Friday 12^th, Saturday 13^th, Friday 19^th and Saturday 20^th December. On the Red Line, departures from Tallaght run at 01:00 and 02:00, from Saggart at 00:30 and 01:30, and from The Point at 01:00, 02:00 and 03:00. On the Green Line, departures from Brides Glen operate at 00:20, 00:50, 01:20, 01:50, 02:20 and 02:50, whilst from Broombridge services run at 00:36, 01:06, 01:36, 02:06, 02:36 and 03:06.

Christmas Eve (24^th December): Services operate from 05:30 to 20:00 on all routes except Saggart, which runs 05:42 to 19:52. This represents a significantly earlier finish than normal, allowing staff to reach home for the evening.

Christmas Day (25^th December): No services operate on any Luas line.

St Stephen’s Day (26^th December): Services resume at 09:00 across the network, running until 23:00 from Tallaght and Brides Glen, 22:53 from Saggart, 23:30 from The Point, and 23:17 from Broombridge. Note that Connolly Luas Stop is closed on this date.

27^th, 29^th and 30^th December: Extended hours operate with services running from 06:30 until midnight from Tallaght (last from Saggart at 23:49), 00:30 from The Point, midnight from Brides Glen, and 00:17 from Broombridge.

28^th December (Sunday): Sunday timetable operates with services running 07:00 to 23:00 from Tallaght and Brides Glen, 07:12 to 22:51 from Saggart, 07:00 to 23:30 from The Point, and 07:00 to 23:17 from Broombridge.

New Year’s Eve (31^st December): Extensive late-night services mirror the pre-Christmas pattern. Services begin at 06:30 and run until 02:00 from Tallaght (01:30 from Saggart), with services from The Point continuing until 03:00 (last departure 02:30), from Brides Glen until 02:50, and from Broombridge until 03:06. This represents one of the most comprehensive late-night public transport offerings for New Year’s Eve celebrations in Dublin.

New Year’s Day (1^st January): Services operate on a Sunday/Bank Holiday timetable, running from 07:00 to 23:00 from Tallaght and Brides Glen, 07:12 to 22:51 from Saggart, 07:00 to 23:30 from The Point, and 07:00 to 23:17 from Broombridge.

Normal services resume from Friday 2^nd January. Passengers should note that Connolly Luas Stop is closed on both Christmas Eve (24^th) and St Stephen’s Day (26^th December). Full timetables and service updates are available at luas.ie.

JJ Kavanagh

JJ Kavanagh operates a diverse network across the southeast and midlands, with different service types following distinct festive arrangements. The company differentiates clearly between its main intercity routes, local services and specialised Local Links connections.

Main and Airport Routes

JJ Kavanagh’s approach to its main intercity and airport services differs markedly from urban operators. Routes 717 (Clonmel - Kilkenny - Dublin), 735 (Limerick - Nenagh - Dublin) and 736 (Waterford - Carlow - Dublin) pause only on Christmas Day itself. St Stephen’s Day sees full resumption of normal service, and crucially, these routes maintain normal operation throughout the New Year period without the Sunday timetable reductions seen elsewhere. This continuity makes them particularly valuable for airport access and intercity travel during the festive season.

Local Routes

The local routes operated by JJ Kavanagh follow a different rhythm. Routes 874 (Hacketstown - Carlow) and 871 (Urlingford - Kilkenny) finish earlier in the festive period, with final services running on Tuesday 23^rd December. Services resume on Monday 29^th December, providing a link through the post-Christmas period, but pause again on New Year’s Day before full resumption on Monday 5^th January.

Waterford City Services

Waterford’s city services, comprising routes 607, 617 and 627, operate with carefully timed finishes on Christmas Eve. The last service from Clock Tower to Dunmore Road departs at 18:15, while the previous service to Slieverue leaves the Quays at 17:45. After the Christmas Day pause, services resume fully on Friday 27^th December. As with the local routes, there is no service on New Year’s Day, with operations returning to normal on Friday 2^nd January.

Local Links Routes

JJ Kavanagh’s Local Links services each have distinct arrangements reflecting their varied passenger bases and route characteristics.

Route 139 (Naas - Blanchardstown) finishes at 21:00 on Christmas Eve and does not run on Christmas Day. It resumes from 09:00 on St Stephen’s Day and notably operates normally through both New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, making it one of the few services maintaining New Year’s Day operation.

Route 815 (Tullamore - Athlone) runs normally on Christmas Eve but pauses on Christmas Day. St Stephen’s Day sees most services resume, except for the 22:00 Tullamore to Athlone and 23:15 Athlone to Tullamore services. The route continues normally throughout the Christmas period, but again omits the late 22:00 and 23:15 services on New Year’s Day.

Route 858 (Portlaoise - Thurles) operates on Christmas Eve except for the 20:25 Portlaoise to Urlingford and 21:30 Urlingford to Portlaoise services. There is no service on either Christmas Day or St Stephen’s Day, with normal operation resuming on Saturday 27^th December. New Year’s Eve follows the Christmas Eve pattern, omitting the same evening services, and there is no service on New Year’s Day.

Route 891 (Fiddown - Kilkenny) runs normally on Christmas Eve, with the last service being the 20:15 - 21:39 to Kilkenny and the 18:45-20:07 to Fiddown. All bank holidays over Christmas, including St Stephen’s Day, operate on the Sunday and public holiday timetable. New Year’s Eve runs to the normal schedule, while New Year’s Day returns to Sunday timings.

Route 817C (Carrick on Suir - Grangemockler) takes a straightforward approach, running every day except Christmas Day. On all other public holidays, the route operates to the Sunday timetable.

Timetables and booking information for all JJ Kavanagh services can be found on the JJ Kavanagh website.

Aircoach

Aircoach, a major airport and intercity operator now part of FirstGroup, takes a notably simple approach to festive scheduling. All Aircoach routes operate every day of the year except Christmas Day. This includes all their main services: the 700 series Dublin Airport routes, 702 (Dublin Airport - Greystones), 704X (Cork - Dublin), 705X (Belfast - Dublin) and 706/706X (Dublin Airport - Maynooth/Celbridge).

The company’s website notes that services finish earlier than usual on Christmas Eve and St Stephen’s Day, with specific details published on their timetables page closer to the dates. This consistent year-round operation, with only the single Christmas Day exception, makes Aircoach particularly reliable for airport connections and intercity travel throughout the festive period. More information is available through Aircoach customer support.

Matthews Coach Hire

Matthews Coach Hire operates daily commuter services from Dundalk, Drogheda and Bettystown to Dublin all year round, with the sole exceptions of Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. This makes their M1 corridor services particularly valuable for maintaining connectivity during the festive period when other operators reduce frequencies or pause services.

Based on previous years’ patterns, Christmas Eve sees reduced service with last departures around 20:00 from Dundalk and 21:30 from Dublin, though passengers should verify specific times closer to the date. The company’s straightforward approach of operating every day except the two main holidays provides useful continuity for commuters and those visiting family in the northeast. Full timetable information is available on the Matthews Coach Hire website.

Wexford Bus

Wexford Bus operates an extensive network connecting Wexford, Dublin, Waterford and surrounding areas, with detailed Christmas and New Year arrangements varying by route. The company has published comprehensive festive schedules for 2025/2026.

Route 740 (Wexford - Dublin City & Airport): Christmas Eve sees the last bus departing Wexford at 16:30 and Dublin Airport at 20:30, with Saturday timetable operation before these times. No service operates on Christmas Day. St Stephen’s Day brings the first service from Wexford at 07:30 and Dublin Airport at 10:30, with Sunday/public holiday timetable thereafter (excluding the 18:30 ex Wexford and 11:30 ex Dublin Airport). Services operate to Saturday timetables on 29^th and 30^th December. New Year’s Eve mirrors Christmas Eve with last departures at 16:30 from Wexford and 20:30 from Dublin Airport. New Year’s Day follows the St Stephen’s Day pattern.

Route 740X (Wexford Direct - Dublin City & Airport): Christmas Eve sees limited services operating at 08:20 and 10:20 ex Wexford, with no southbound services. Christmas Day has no service. St Stephen’s Day operates limited services at 10:20 ex Wexford and 14:00 ex Dublin. Services run to Saturday timetable on 29^th, 30^th and 31^st December, with Sunday/public holiday timetable on New Year’s Day.

Route 740A (Arklow & Wicklow - Dublin City & Airport): Christmas Eve operates limited services from Gorey at 07:10, 09:40, 11:40, 13:40 and 15:40, with corresponding Dublin Airport departures. No service Christmas Day. Sunday/public holiday timetable operates St Stephen’s Day and New Year’s Day, with Saturday timetable on 29^th, 30^th and 31^st December.

Route 340 (Wexford - New Ross & Waterford): Christmas Eve sees last departures at 16:30 from Wexford and 18:00 from Waterford (Whitfield Hospital), with certain morning services cancelled. No service Christmas Day. St Stephen’s Day operates limited timetable with departures from Wexford at 10:30, 12:30, 14:30 and 16:30. Services operate to Sunday timetable on 28^th December (with 20:30 ex Wexford and 22:00 ex Waterford cancelled). New Year’s Eve mirrors Christmas Eve, with limited timetable on New Year’s Day.

Route 376 (Wexford - Carlow): Operates to Saturday timetable on Christmas Eve. No services on Christmas Day, St Stephen’s Day or 28^th December. Saturday timetable resumes 29^th, 30^th and 31^st December. No services New Year’s Day.

Full details for all Wexford Bus routes, including the 884 (Wexford - Gorey), WX1, WX2 and other local services, are available on the Wexford Bus Christmas schedule page.

City Direct

City Direct operates urban bus networks in Kilkenny, Galway and Portlaoise, with festive arrangements following similar patterns across locations but with some local timing variations. All services broadly mirror the Sunday timetable approach used by other urban operators during the holiday period.

Kilkenny City Services

City Direct’s Kilkenny operations mirror the Go-Ahead Ireland pattern seen in Dublin. Christmas Eve brings normal service until approximately 21:00, allowing for the predictable early closure. Christmas Day sees a complete halt across the city’s routes. St Stephen’s Day recovery begins at 09:00 with a Sunday timetable in operation, meaning reduced frequencies compared to normal weekday service.

From 27^th through to 30^th December, normality returns with the full timetable reinstated. New Year’s Eve ends early at around 21:00, echoing the Christmas Eve finish. New Year’s Day operates on the Sunday timetable from 09:00 before the city’s buses resume their usual pattern on 2^nd January.

Galway Urban Routes

Galway’s core City Direct routes (410, 411 and 412), which link Eyre Square with western suburbs including Knocknacarra, Cappagh Road and the Western Distributor Road, follow similar arrangements with slight timing variations. Christmas Eve sees normal service across all three routes, but everything winds up by approximately 21:15 from Eyre Square. Those travelling from the city centre for festive gatherings need to be mindful of these last departures.

Christmas Day brings a complete pause. St Stephen’s Day sees the familiar Sunday schedule cover all three city routes, providing core service levels without normal weekday frequency. From 27^th through to 30^th December, these busy arteries reclaim their standard operation. On New Year’s Eve, buses operate through the day but all finish with a last departure from Eyre Square at 21:15, echoing the Christmas Eve pattern. New Year’s Day brings a Sunday timetable once more, before all systems reset to normal on 2^nd January.

Portlaoise Routes PL1 and PL2

Routes PL1 and PL2 feature detailed timings with notable variations. On Christmas Eve, PL1 operates a full service up to 21:00, while PL2’s last bus leaves at 20:50, a small but potentially crucial difference for late evening users. Both routes pause on Christmas Day.

St Stephen’s Day features a Sunday timetable with staggered starts: PL1 commences from 09:00, while PL2 starts slightly earlier at 08:50. From 27^th to 30^th December, everything operates as per the normal timetable. New Year’s Eve repeats the Christmas Eve pattern, with early finishes of 21:00 for PL1 and 20:50 for PL2. On New Year’s Day, the Sunday timetable returns with the same staggered initial departures. Regular timetables resume for all services on 2^nd January.

Current information for all City Direct services can be found on the City Direct website and through Transport for Ireland.

Analysis and Practical Implications

The variation across these operators reveals different operational philosophies and service priorities. Luas stands out with its comprehensive late-night services on key dates, providing valuable connectivity for Christmas and New Year’s Eve celebrations with services running until the early hours. This commitment to late-night operation contrasts sharply with most bus operators’ early finishes.

Aircoach’s decision to operate every day except Christmas Day represents the most consistent festive service among bus operators, reflecting its focus on airport connections where demand remains relatively stable. Matthews Coach Hire follows a similar pattern, pausing only on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, providing valuable continuity for northeast commuters.

JJ Kavanagh’s approach shows clear differentiation between service types: main and airport routes maintain full operation throughout (except Christmas Day), local routes take an extended break from 23^rd December to 29^th December, and Local Links services each follow carefully tailored patterns reflecting their specific communities’ needs. This varied approach recognises that different passengers have different festive travel requirements.

Wexford Bus demonstrates the complexity of managing a regional network with multiple route types, from high-frequency airport services to local town routes. Their detailed, route-specific arrangements balance maintaining connectivity with allowing staff time off during the holidays. The early finishes on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve (16:30 from most origins) are notably earlier than many other operators, requiring careful planning from passengers.

Go-Ahead Ireland and City Direct follow the Sunday timetable approach familiar from other Dublin operators. Understanding this distinction becomes crucial for passengers, as Sunday schedules mean fewer buses and often later morning starts. The difference between a 09:00 start on a Sunday timetable and earlier weekday departures could leave passengers waiting longer than anticipated on chilly winter mornings.

The early finishes on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve across City Direct’s networks (21:00 in Kilkenny, 21:15 in Galway) mean those heading out for celebrations need alternative arrangements for return journeys. JJ Kavanagh’s Route 139 stands out as an exception, maintaining New Year’s Day service alongside its New Year’s Eve operation.

Route-specific variations demand careful attention. The few minutes’ difference between PL1 and PL2 start times, the specific evening services omitted on routes 815 and 858, the varied resumption dates across JJ Kavanagh’s local services, and Wexford Bus’s route-by-route arrangements all require checking individual timetables rather than assuming uniform patterns.

Conclusion

These additional operators complement the wider national network covered by Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann and Irish Rail, but their varied approaches reflect different service types and passenger needs. Luas provides exceptional late-night coverage for festive celebrations, particularly on New Year’s Eve with services running into the early hours. Aircoach and Matthews Coach Hire’s near-continuous operation provides valuable continuity for airport access and commuter corridors. JJ Kavanagh’s maintenance of intercity and airport links provides essential connectivity for longer-distance travellers, while Wexford Bus’s comprehensive network serves the southeast with carefully balanced festive arrangements.

The urban networks of Go-Ahead Ireland and City Direct follow patterns more typical of city transport operations, with Sunday timetables creating noticeable service reductions on key dates. The diversity of arrangements underscores the importance of checking specific operator details rather than assuming all services follow identical festive timetables.

Return to normality comes at different dates depending on service type and operator, with most urban services back to normal by 2^nd January, some local routes taking until 5^th January to fully resume, and certain routes operating altered timetables through early January. As always, the key to smooth festive travel lies in verifying arrangements with individual operators before setting out, recognising that Ireland’s transport network comprises numerous independent operators each tailoring their festive service to their specific circumstances and passenger base.

Bus Éireann has published its Christmas and New Year timetable alterations for 2025–26. While the broad pattern follows previous years, there are several exceptions worth noting, particularly for those relying on early morning departures on St Stephen’s Day or catching last buses on Christmas Eve.

Christmas Eve, Wednesday 24^th December 2025

City, town, commuter and rural services have their last departures at approximately 9pm, with any service starting before that time completing its full journey.

Expressway routes vary more substantially in their finishing times. Some routes finish earlier than others:

• Route 4 (Waterford–Dublin Airport): 14:45 from Waterford, 19:15 from Dublin Airport
• Route 13: 15:00 from Tralee to Limerick (the return journey runs until 19:35)

Later finishing routes include:

• Route 2 (Wexford–Dublin Airport): 17:00 from Wexford, 21:00 from Dublin Airport
• Route 30 (Dublin–Donegal): 21:30 from Dublin, 17:30 from Donegal
• Route 100X (Dublin–Dundalk): 20:41 from Dublin, 18:30 from Dundalk

Route 14 requires a connection. The last departure from Limerick to Killarney is at 17:35, with customers needing to connect in Abbeyfeale onto the 18:55 service to complete their journey.

Routes 51, 52, 55 and 64 will operate to their normal weekday schedules on Christmas Eve.

Route 40 maintains services across the southern corridor, with the eastbound route finishing at 19:30 from Waterford to Rosslare and the westbound at 19:30 from Waterford to Cork.

Christmas Day, Thursday 25^th December 2025

No services operate.

St Stephen’s Day, Friday 26^th December 2025

Services resume to a Sunday schedule. Most routes start at 09:00, with several notable exceptions.

Route 30 has its first departure from Donegal at 04:00, the earliest start of any route.

Other early starters include:

• Route 32: 04:30 from Letterkenny
• Route 23: 06:00 from Sligo
• Route 190: 05:20 from Athlone to Drogheda
• Route 270: 06:00 from Skibbereen to Killarney

Route 220 in Cork follows a different pattern. While Cork City services generally follow a Sunday timetable, Route 220 starts after 07:00, with specific early departures including 07:00 from Primary Care Centre to Ovens and 07:10 from Ovens to Primary Care Centre.

Routes serving Dublin from surrounding counties generally start between 06:00 and 08:00. Routes 109B (06:00 from Athboy to Dublin), 109X (06:15 from Dublin to Cavan) and 133 (07:00 from Wicklow to Dublin) are among those offering early options.

Routes 330 and 343 both start at 06:00 serving Shannon Airport. Route 456 from Castlebar to Galway starts at 06:00.

Routes serving Waterford and the southeast have early departures, with Route 355 starting at 07:42 from Clonmel to Waterford and Route 354 at 07:40 from Dunmore East to The Clock Tower.

Carlow town services CW1 and CW2 both start at 08:20.

Saturday 27^th December to Wednesday 31^st December 2025

Services revert to their normal patterns:

• Saturday 27^th December: Saturday timetable
• Sunday 28^th December: Sunday timetable
• Monday 29^th December to Wednesday 31 December: Weekday schedules

New Year’s Day, Thursday 1^st January 2026

Services operate to a Sunday schedule.

Friday 2^th January 2026

Normal weekday services resume.

Summary

The festive timetable provides reduced but workable service levels. Early morning coverage on St Stephen’s Day is maintained across most routes, with Christmas Eve services finishing at 9pm for local services and varying times for Expressway routes.

As the end of the year approaches, preparations for 2025-6 Festive Season see inevitable changes to Dublin’s bus services. Alterations to timetables are nothing new during the festive season, and having clear information helps customers navigate family visits, shopping or late-night events. Efforts are being made to maintain as much service as feasible, balancing demand, staff availability and public expectation. What follows is a full summary of the bus arrangements for Dublin and surrounding areas in December 2025 and the early days of the new year, offering a sense of what will operate, when and where there will be deviations from the norm.

Quick Reference: Key Dates

• Christmas Eve (24^th December): Saturday service with additional early morning departures, last buses approximately 21:00, no Nitelink
• Christmas Day (25^th December): No service
• St Stephen’s Day (26^th December): Sunday service, no Nitelink
• 27^th-28^th December: Saturday and Sunday services respectively, no Nitelink
• 29^th-31^st December: Saturday services, full Nitelink available
• New Year’s Day (1^st January 2026): Sunday service, no Nitelink
• 2^nd January: Normal weekday services resume

Early December (11^th-13^th December)

Thursday 11^th and Friday 12^th December see the city’s routes running to regular weekday patterns, with the full Nitelink service present for those needing late connections, supplementing the network of existing 24-hour routes. Saturday 13^th December adopts the familiar Saturday pattern, again matched with Nitelink, reinforcing the sense that planners want to ensure mobility remains straightforward for most people through the heart of December.

Mid-December (18^th-21^st December)

The following Thursday and Friday, 18^th and 19^th December, continue with regular weekday services and full Nitelink operation. Saturday 20^th December maintains the standard Saturday timetable with Nitelink available.

On 21^st December, the first of the changes surfaces, with Sunday services across all routes accompanied by full Nitelink. Of note is the suspension of City Tours and Ghostbus Tours, so those hoping for some festive sightseeing or a different entertainment may have to wait.

The Critical Week (22^nd-28^th December)

22^nd-23^rd December

The same holds across the following two weekdays, 22^nd and 23^rd December, with the usual weekday service operating while the City Tours and Ghostbus Tours both remain on hiatus. Nitelink does not operate on these dates.

Christmas Eve (24^th December)

The heart of Christmas Eve on Wednesday 24^th December looks a little different, reflecting the tradition that most people are headed home or finishing work early. For this day, a Saturday service runs on all routes, though with additional early-morning departures for the busiest routes, ensuring that journeys are possible from the start of the day for those who need to get places before the last-minute dash.

Importantly, last departures are scheduled for around 21:00, a widespread adjustment that makes for a slightly earlier finish than usual. Many routes receive tailored arrangements for these final departures, so it pays to be alert to just when the last bus will run. Nitelink, City Tours and Ghostbus Tours do not operate at all that evening, so any late plans will need alternative transport.

Christmas Day (25^th December)

All Dublin Bus scheduled services take a break. This is customary and has been the case each year, so the advice is to plan well in advance, as no scheduled buses will run on 25 December.

St Stephen’s Day (26^th December)

Boxing Day, or St Stephen’s Day, Friday 26^th December, sees the network back running Sunday timetables across all routes. However, there are further caveats: Nitelink, City Tours and Ghostbus Tours will remain out of operation. The regular 24-hour service, however, continues where in place, ensuring some late-night mobility is sustained for those who need it most.

Weekend Recovery (27^th-28^th December)

Saturday 27 December resumes the usual Saturday timetable, with the reappearance of both City Tours and Ghostbus Tours for those wanting to venture out or sample some attractions. Nitelink does not operate. Sunday 28 December was set aside for the regular Sunday service, again with both the City Tours and Ghostbus Tours scheduled as normal, though Nitelink remains unavailable.

New Year Period (29^th December - 2^nd January)

The week between Christmas and New Year’s brings a slight departure from the everyday pattern. Monday 29^th, Tuesday 30^th and Wednesday 31^st December each adopt a Saturday service across all routes, paired with the full Nitelink offer for late-night demand. These days appear aimed at making it easy for people to travel, shop or visit right through the post-Christmas bustle and New Year’s Eve. Those familiar with recent years may see this as an effort to reduce confusion and avoid overly complex holiday scheduling.

New Year’s Day, Thursday 1^st January 2026, bears its own variations. All routes run on the Sunday schedule, but with Nitelink taking a break for this day, so alternative plans are required for late-night journeys. The 24-hour services continue, sustaining a basic level of provision, while City Tours do return for those looking for something to do on the bank holiday. Ghostbus Tours, on the other hand, remain suspended for the day.

By Friday 2^nd January, the bus network is back to the typical weekday service pattern, marking the proper end to the holiday period.

Christmas Eve: Special Arrangements

Additional Early Morning Departures

Within these headline changes, there are layers of detail for those catching buses at sensitive times or working unsocial hours. Additional early morning departures play a key role, especially on Christmas Eve. Extra buses operate specific early services on several of the larger, busier routes. Timings are exact and intended to align with shift patterns or early-morning demands, with some buses leaving as early as 04:35 and spanning a wide range of corridors, such as from Howth Dart Station, Mountjoy Square, Ballycullen, Charlestown, Dublin Airport, Clarehall, Balbriggan, Blanchardstown and other major gathering points. Access to the city centre is notably prioritised from outlying areas, reflecting the need for staff to reach retail or hospitality work in good time.

Full details of additional early morning departures are available on the Dublin Bus website.

Last Departures

Specific mention is warranted for last departures on Christmas Eve, always a topic of concern for those making critical journeys home or to other gatherings. The overwhelming pattern here is for the final buses on each route to run between 19:30 and 21:00, though some services do see their final departure as early as late afternoon, for example, Skerries to Abbey Street on Route 33 at 17:11.

For most city and suburban routes, the final runs are efficiently spaced to clear demand before a full stop is applied for the evening. City centre corridors such as Abbey Street, Aston Quay, Parnell Square and Hawkins Street feature as hubs for many final buses, suggesting a concerted effort to keep the network interconnected for as long as practical. Some suburban routes finish slightly before 21:00, so anyone depending on public transport in the evening needs to plan ahead with particular care, allowing for earlier departures to avoid disappointment.

Complete information on last departures for all routes is available on the Dublin Bus website.

Specialist Services Throughout the Period

Nitelink

Nitelink, which for many years has helped people get home after late nights out, is only suspended at the most critical points in the season. Across most of the lead-up to Christmas and from 29 December through to New Year’s Eve, Nitelink supplements the 24-hour routes. The key exceptions to this are 22^nd, 23^rd, 24^th, 25^th, 26^th, 27^th, 28^th December and 1 January, days when the combination of early finishes, full closures or public holiday schedules renders the late-night runs less essential.

Wherever Nitelink does operate, it is available alongside the regular 24-hour services, adding further capacity for those who need to travel at less usual times.

Nitelink operates:

• 11^th-13^th December
• 18^th-21^st December
• 29^th-31^st December

Nitelink does not operate:

• 22^nd-28^th December
• 1^st January 2026

City Tours and Ghostbus Tours

Throughout the season, the City Tours and Ghostbus Tours, favourites for both locals and visitors, follow an on/off pattern. They do not operate on the last few days before Christmas, nor on 25 and 26 December, but return for the weekend that follows. On New Year’s Day, only the City Tours resume, with the Ghostbus remaining suspended.

City Tours and Ghostbus Tours do not operate:

• 21^st-26^th December

City Tours and Ghostbus Tours resume:

• 27^th December onwards

New Year’s Day exception:

• City Tours operate
• Ghostbus Tours do not operate

24-Hour Routes

The regular 24-hour services (Routes 15, 39a, 41, 80, C1, C2, C5, C6, E1, E2, F1, F2, G1, G2 and N4) operate throughout the Christmas period, including Christmas Day, providing continuous mobility across twelve routes seven days a week.

Conclusion

The emphasis throughout the Christmas period is on balancing festive demand with the operational realities of public transport. Adjustments serve both as a recognition of the city’s core routines and its seasonal differences. By running a patchwork of weekday, Saturday and Sunday schedules interwoven with special early morning departures, Dublin Bus aims to make the season as seamless as possible for its many users, from shift workers to shoppers to families reuniting after a long year.

For precise times and departures, consulting the latest operational updates or real-time information will be essential, as there is scope for slight adjustment closer to the day if warranted.

For more information:

• Dublin Bus Festive Arrangements 2025-2026
• Additional Early Morning Departures
• Last Departures on Christmas Eve
• Transport for Ireland Christmas Services